Sheet feeder



April 28, 1925.

H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER v Original Filed Nov. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TOR fiarg f/z/z' BY A TTOR/VEY 1,535,217 H. EHLIG SHEET FEEDER A ril 28, 1925.

Original Filed Nov. 1922 st 2 i l I IN l/E N TOR 1 A TTORHEY April 28, I

. I H. EHLIG SHEET FEgllngR I Original File d Ndv. 25;"1'922 sh e s sh fi I J II 86 O /'x 2: f I I3 43 36 I7 84 4 I 88 HIM \44 W22 I v as, I l I: w.\ M P14 66 l 7 72 5 a??? HIM 9| IN VE N TOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY EHLIG, or PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGN-OR T0 GEORGE E. swam a com- I'ANY, me, or NEW YORK, n. Y., A conromrron or NEW YORK.

SHE T EEDER.

Original application 1116a November, 25,1922, Serial no. 603,163. Divided and this August 26, 1924.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, HARRYEHLIG, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Pearl River, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Sheet Feeders, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in sheet feeders for automatically separating and advancing successive sheets of paper or other impressiomreceiving material to printing, folding or ruling machines, or to such other types of machines as are devised'to operate thereafter on such sheets.

The ob'ects of m invention are amon y a a other things, mainly to provide a sheetfeeder of this character having a simpllfi'ed design-which will have embodied therein separate mechanisms ,capable' of performing efficient work, while they are not likely to get out of order, yet are very sensitive in action, all being incorporated in a feeder T which will invariably separate and continuously feed or advance the successive sheets, preferably from a fanned-out bank of paper on the feed-b0ard, both automatically and with great rapidity. With this aim .in view, I have .devised a continuous front-edge feeder which will separate and feed the sheets in a continuous flow by devices operating on the front portion or margins of the stacked-up sheets, the sheet forwarding mechanisms for the bank of sheets being 2 controlled by the variable pressure or weight of the frontmargins of the fanned-out bank supported on the feed-board beneath the feed-oil? devices. My present application for patent is a division ofmy pending application, Serial Number 603,163 filed N0 '0llll)8l 25, 1922.

Another objectof my invention is to pro-' ride an improved suction feeding-oft device for continuously separating and advancing the successive sheets,- eombined with a novel detector mechanism, controlled by the forward pressure of the bank which will opcrate independently of the suction feedingmll' device and also independeptly of the number or timing of the. individual sheets separated tlwrel y, wl1iel1 mechanism controls and inaugurates the action of the bank or pile feed application filed Serial No: 733.113.

o fl' device operating at the front margins of such sheets, the forward pressure of these front margins controlling the operation of the bank feed,

My improved sheet-feeder also embodies other advantageous features of novelty and improvement in which the different operating parts are greatly simplified in form and action, and are made more effective and otherwise better adapted for us e,fall of which will be hereinafter described and then ,particularly set forth in the appended claims.

The drawings. show m improvements in their preferred embodiment in a continuous sheet-feeder; such improvements, however, are not to be restricted to any particular type of sheet-feeder, as the invention'may be embodied in various forms of feeders with similar advantages and results.

Of the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevaline 2'-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction 7 of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view I taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showin a. part of the stop mechanism for controlhng the action of the bank feed devices;

Fig. 4.- is an. enlarged detail view showing the relation of one of the detector fingers bearing against the front margins of the top sheets in the bank in the position shown in Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line -55 of Fig. 2 looking in the directionof the arrowstand Fig. ,6 is a side view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the pawl-carrying ratchet arm as having been rocked preparatory to advance the bank feed belts.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures. 2

Referring to Figs-1, 2 and 6, the two foo side frames 7 and 8 of the feeder proper are 7 affixed thereto is the lower feed-boa'd 11 over-"which travel a series ofieed'belts 12' perforations to advance the bank of sheets 13 along the feed-board 11.. The belts 12 pass around the drum l-t fast to the transverse shaft journalled in the side-frames 7 and 8 as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 15 carries the ratchet 1G by which the feed-belts 12 are intermittently ad *anced over the feed-board 11 to carry the bank of fanned-out sheets 13 to the separating and feeding-011' (.tevices.

In the present en'ibodiment the sheet separating and advancing devices comprise an endless loop belt 17 having spacedapart 18 (Fig. 1) which passes around three flanged pulleys 1.), 20 and 21 journallcd on stub-shafts 22, Qi-land 2 L respectively removably secured to the plate 25 by screw-nuts 26. Q7 and 98 respectively. The stub-shaft 22 for the top pulley 19 is adjustably secured in the arcuate slot 29 so as to take up any slack in the belt 17, whenever required. A'tiixed to the top-pulley 19 is the gear 30, both pulley and gear being rotatably mounted on the sleeve 31 (Fig. the pulleys 2t) and 21 are similarly mounted or. their respective shafts 23 and 24. The gear meshes with the gear 32 journalled on the stub-shaft 33 removably secured to the vertical supporting plate 25 by the screw-nut, such gear 32 engaging with the gear 84 fast on the transverse shaft 35 journalled in the side frames 7 and 8 (Fig. 1). The plate 95 is sleeved on the shaft 35 and is supported by the suction nozzle 516 atiixed to the plate 23. the nozzle 36 having a wide curved face 37 (Figs. 2 and 1) against. which the inner surface ot the loop belt 17 is pressed. The face 37 has the port 38 formed therein connected by the passage-way 39 with the hollow chamber 40 and tube 41 with the transverse pipe 12 fixed to the side frame. 7 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The port 38 is arranged to intermittently register with the successive perforations 19 in the belt 17. The required suction to operate the belt 17 is applied to the pipe 12 by any suitable air-exhausting means not shown. The sheets from the bank 123 adhere to the exterior surface of the perforated belt 17 opposite the nozzle 36 and are separated aud-advanced to the usual 't'eed-rollers (not shown) by the belt 17 moving in a ('lOt'lUYlSt direction as shown in Fig. l.

The front edges of the sheets comprising the bank 13 are ltept parated by a blast of air from the nozzle 13 mounted on. the pipe 44- adjustably secured to the bracket. -15 (Fig. 1), which pipe connected with any suitable air pump not shown; the sheets then pass over the guide plates it; (two being shown in Fig. 1) mounted on the. tie. rod 47. the plates it; having curved extensions 48 upon which the tr nt margins of the sheets rest (Fig. 1) at the fm'ward end of the teed-hoard l1.

The shaft 35 is constantly rotated in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2 and (t) by the gear 19 aflixed to such shaft (Fig. 1). The gear 49 meshes with the idler gear 50 which coacts with gear 51 and the gear engages gear 52 journalled on bracket: 5-) removably secured to the frame 7 by the bolt 54; and nut 55. The gear 52 meshes with the gear 56 secured to the power shalt 57 which is driven from any suitable. source of powernot shown.

The detector mechanism which controls and inaugurates the action of the bank feed 111(l01')011(l('11tl of the action of the suction loop belt 17 in feeding the sheets from the tank 13 is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and comprises the detector tingers 58 (only one being shown for clcarness) adjustably mounted on the collar 59 (Fig. 1) atlixed to the rocleshaft (it) journalled in the ln'ackets (t1 and ($2 pinned to the tie-shaft (33 secured in the side-frames 7 and S. The tips of fingers .38 have a series of teeth 64. formed therein to hold the front edges of the upp sheets spzu-ed-apart'. after being winded from the air-nozzle 43 as shown in Fig. 4. and as such sheets bear against the finger 58. The shaft (to also adjustably carries the arm which engages beneath the head 66 of the pin (37 slidably mounted in the block 68 attixcd to the frame 8 (Fig. 3). The bin-k (39 has the tapered hole 69 cut therein through which the pin 67 slides freely by gravity. lVhen the pin 67 is in its lower position (Fig. 2), its tip projects below the under surface of the block 68; when the pin (i7 is raised (Fig. (i), the pin tip is Withdrawn within the hole 69. The/pin 67 is normally held in its raised position against gravity by the light coil spring 70, one end of which is affixed to the lever arm 71 secured to the shaft 60 (Fig. 3) and with its lower end fast to the upper end of the screwthreaded pin 72 slidably held in the bracket. 73 affixed to the side-frame 8 (Figs. 2 and (S) by the thumb screw-nut 7 4 by which the tension or pull of the spring on the arm 71 may be regulated according to the variable pressure or weight of the front margins of the sheets of any particular weight or thickness bearing against the finger 58 (Fig. 4).

Beneath the inner end of the block tit is the latorally-moving slide-bar 75 resting on the flanged roller 76 journalted on the stub-shaft. 77 secured to the frame H. The forward end of the slide-bar 7:3 is formed with the Cutout part" 78 in its upper surface providing the shoulder 79 back of the tip of the pin 67 when the latter is in its lowered position as shown in Fig. 2. The bar 7;; is pivoted at 30 to the lower arm 91 ot the bell crank lever 82 rotatably mounted on the shaft 15: the short arm 83 carries the pawl 84 which reacts with the ratchet 16 fast. on the shaft 15 while the longer arm 85 of lit) the lever 82 carries the cam-roller 86 to engage with the cam 87 secured to the shaft 35. Depending from the pin 88 on the arm 85 is the rod 89 which slides through the bracket 90 secured to the frame 8; between cam S7 with the spring. 92 under compression: Fig. 6 shows the pawl 84' retracted by the release of the spring 92 when the roller 86 is free to enter the drop of the cam 87, and theslide-bar 75 in its released forward position.

till

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows? hen the loop belt 17 is constantly revolving in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) and is normally separating and advancing the top sheets from the bank 13 (Fig. 4), in conjunction with the air-blast from the nozzle 48. the pressure or weight of the front margins of the upper sheets partially supported on the guide-plate extensions 48 (Fig. 4) is sufficient to rock or swing forwardly the finger 58 on the rockshaft 60 against the tension of the springwhich allows the pin 67 to fall by gravity to its Fig. 2 position-in which the pin-tip projects into the cut-out part 78 of the slidebar slightly in advance of the shoulder 79. the arrangement of the parts of'this stop mechanism being such that Whenthe camroller 86 is riding onv the dwell of the cam 87 the shoulder 79 is just to the rear' of the pin 67 which, however. holds the bar 75 in its Fig. 2 position when the roller 86 is passing over the drop of the cam 87. When the revolving loop belt 17 has separated and advanced the top sheets from the bank 13 over the guide plates 47 .to'the feedingoff rollers, and the thickness of the bank 13 is thereby diminished so that it becomes desirable or necessary to advance the bank or pile of sheets by moving the feed-belts 12 on the feedboard 11. the pressure or weight of the diminishing top sheets bearing on the finger 58 becomes less than the tension of the spring '70. and such finger is swung-rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6.

Such rearward movement of the finger 58 raises the pin 67 and trees the slide-bar 75 while releasing the bell-crank lever 82 whichis rocked in a clockwise direction from the Fig. 2 to the Fig. 6 position when the cam 87 has rotated sutiiciently to allow the camroll-er 86 to enter the drop of the cam 87 (Fig. 6). and the pawl 84 is simultaneously drawn baclnvardly over the teeth of the ratchet 16. hen the lever 82 is rocked in an anti-clockwise direction by }the roller 86 riding out of the drop of the cam 87 the ratchet i6 rigidly secured to the shaft 15 will advance the feed-belts 12 to forward the bank of sheets. Such bank-feedmove'ment through this pawl and ratchet mechanism will be repeated with each revolution of the cam 87 until the pressure of the front edges of the top sheets in thebank of sheets bearing with their front margins on the finger 58 is suflic-ient to rock forwardly the finger 58 to its Fig. 2 position against the tension of the delicate spring 70. which movement allows the pin 67 to' fall by gra'vity so that itsv tip will again rest i n the cut-out part 78 and ahead of the shoulder 7 9 to prevent further oscillations of the bell-lever.82; in

the dwell of the cam 87 and bridges the dro p because the pin 67 prevents'a forward movement of the slide-bar 75 and the co l spring 92 is held under compression as shown in Fig. Such detector control and stop mechanism is very sensitive in action and maybe variably adjusted according to the weight of the stock being fed. 2

- The foregoing construction embodies the underlying principles of my'invention, but various changes or modifications may be made in the structural details without departing from the scope' of my improvements. However, the foregoing is suflicient to disclose the basic principles and advantages of my invention as installed in a sheet-feeder of the continuous-type.

I claim as-my invention 1. In a sheet-feeder,;a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed-board, and means including a part bearing rearwardly against the edges of the sheets and controlled by the forward pressure of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means.

2. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means forintermittently advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed-board, and including a part bearing rearwardlyv against'the edges of the sheets and means controlled by the forward pressure of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means.

8. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed-board, and means including a spring-tensioned part bearing at all times yieldingly against the edges of the sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means when the forward pressure of the top sheets is less' than a predetermined point.

4. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board. means for advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed-board. means including a spring-- justing the tension of said spring in said inaugurating means for predetermined variable pressures.

5. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for intermittently advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board nor: mally locked out of operation, and means bearing against the edges of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means when the forward pressure of. the top sheets is lessthan a predetermined point.

6. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for intermittently advancing a pile or bank of sheets'along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, means including a spring-tensioned part bearing against the edges of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means when the forward pressure of the top sheets is less than a predeterminedpoint, and a manuallyoperated screw device for adjusting the tension of said spring in said inaugurating means for predetermined variable pressures.

7. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, and means bearing against the edges of the top sheets for actuating said advancing means when the forward pressure of the top sheets is less than a predetermined point and relocked in inoperative position.

when said sheet pressure is restored to the predetermined point.

8. In a sheet feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, and means bearing against the edges of the top sheets controlled by the front edges of the top sheets for actuating said advancing means when the forward pressure of said sheets is less than a predetermined point and relocked in inoperative position when said top sheet pressure is restored to the predetermined point.

9. In a sheet-feeder, a. feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, and means comprising a part bearing rearwardly and yieldingly against the front edges of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means.

10. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board. means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation. and means comprising aspring-pressed part bearing against the front edges of the top sheets counter to their forward movement for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means.

11. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a tanned-out bank of sheets along said fred-board i'iormally locked out of Operation, and means comprising a springpressed part bearing against the front edges of the top sheets counter to their forward movement for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means when the forward pressure of said sheets is less than that of the spring-pressed part.

12. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, and yielding meanslocated along the front edge of ,the feed-board and bearing on the front edges of the top sheets counter to their forward movement with a predetermined yielding pressure for inaugurating theoperation of said advancing means when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than said predetermined pressure.

13. In a sneet-feeder, a feed-hoard, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, and yielding means comprising a series of spring-pressed fingers located along the front edge of the feed-board and bearing on the front edges of the top sheets counter to their forward movement with a predetermined yielding pressure for inaugurating the operation of said ad ancing means when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than said predetermined pressure.

14. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a pile or bank of sheets along said feed ooard normally locked out of operation, sheet-feeding devices for separating and forwarding the successive sheets from the front margins of the pile or bank, and a trip mechanism including a spring-tensioned detector controlled and actuated by the forward pressure of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means.

15. In a sheet-feeder,-a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, sheet feeding devices for separating and forwarding the successive sheets from the front margins of the bank, and means including a spring-tensioned detector bearing continuously on said front margins for inaugurating the operation of said a'dvancing means only when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than a predetermined point irrespective of the number or succession of the fed-off sheets.

16. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, sheet-feeding devices for separating and for" aiding the successive sheets from the front margins of the bank. means including a spring-tensioned detector bearing continuously on said front margins for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means only when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than a predetermined point,

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irrespective of the number or succession of' the fed-off sheets, and a manually-operated screw device for adjusting the tension of said spring in said inaugurating means for any predetermined variable pressures.

17. In-a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets alongisaid feed-board normally locked out of operation, sheet feeding devices for separating and forwarding same from the front margins of the bank, and means including a spring-tensioned detector bearing continuously on said front margins for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means only when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than a predetermined point, irrespective of the number or succession of the fed-off sheets, said last-mentioned means automaticallyrelocking itself in normal in operative position, when said sheet pressure is again at or above said predetermined point.

18.- In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, sheet feeding devices for separating and forwarding same from the frontmargins ofthe bank, and means including a spring-tensioned detector bearing continuously on said front margins for inaugurating the'operation of said advancing vmeans fll) only wh'en the forwa rd pressure of the sheets is less than a predetermined point irrespective of the number or successionof the fedoff sheets, said last-mentioned means automatically relocking itself in normal inoperative position throughcontinued movement of the feeder when said sheet pressure is again at or above said predetermined point;

-19. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feed-board normally locked out of operation, sheet feeding devices for separating and forwarding samefrom the front margins of the bank, and means comprising a spring-pressed finger yieldingly bearing against the front edges of the top sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means only when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than a predetermined point irrespective of the number of succession of the fed-off sheets, said lastme-ntioned means automatically relocking itself in'normal inoperative position only when said sheet pressure is again at or above said predetermined point.

20. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-board, means for advancing a fanned-out bank of sheets along said feedsboard normally locked out of operation, sheet feeding devices for sepmating and forwarding same from the front margins of the bank, and means comprising a series of spaced-apart spring-pressed fingers yieldingly bearing against the front edges 0f.the topv sheets for inaugurating the operation of said advancing means only when the forward pressure of the sheets is less than a predetermined point irrespective of the number or succession of the fed-off sheets, said last-mentioned means automatically relocking itself in normal inoperative position when said sheet pressure is again at or above said, predetermined point,

21.111 a sheet-feeder, a normally inoperative bank-advancing mechanism, a latchlock controlling same, and a spring-tensioned detector bearing on the front margins of the bank in turn to control said latch-lock.v

22. In a Sl'lCGli-QEGGLIQI, a normally inoperative bank-advancing mechanism, a latchlock controlling same, and a spring-te-nsioned detector .eontinuously bearing rearwardly against the front margins of the bank in turnto control said latch-lock.

HARRY EHLIG. 

